Melbourne riders. Please book your overnight stay at Berrigan asap.Check your email. You need to organize this yourselves.
This ride is open and on! Please respond and pay if you want to come along.
An interstate meetup, and the first of many hosted by Vespa Club Australia. VCoA is encouraging its member clubs to arrange interstate meetups, and the next involving VCOM will be with Adelaide.
Coolamon is a beautiful oasis town in NSW, just north east of Wagga Wagga. It's exactly halfway between Sydney and Melbourne, so it's a 500 km ride through some wonderful country there and another 500 back, and a chance to meet and ride with some great people from interstate.
a. Program for event, including day rides from Coolamon, will be published soon. Potential ride outs to historic Ariah Park, and or Junee Licorice Factory.
It's a small town with limited accommodation and, given the uncertain times, we are planning a small event. Attendance will require you to confirm your accomodation. The club has reserved much of the available accom, so it will be important to book your accom early to confirm your place.
Getting there: VCoM will organize a group ride there on Thursday 31 March, staying at Berrigan overnight, and arriving at Coolamon the next morning. Staying two nights, we would depart Sunday and arrive back home on the Monday. Of course, you may choose to travel under your own arrangments, or you might like to just ride on after the event.
b. Melbourne ride up. Thursday 31 March. Meet and fuel up at the Ampol Servo cnr Sharps Rd and Airport Drive, Airport West. Have a big breakfast at home, as the 'Foodary' at this place is coffee and fast food. Departs 8.30 AM. Refuel at Heathcote, Shepparton, Lockhart. Overnight stay at Berrigan NSW - to be advised. But it will be cheap overnight pub accommodation.
The old traditional hotel in Coolamon is closed for renovation, so accom is limited. Note that the info below is for the Friday and Saturday night only. There will be additional accommodation costs overnight on the ride up and back, and will depend upon how your club is organizing that ride.
Accommodation through us.
Coolamon Motel. The club has reserved the entire place. There are 10 rooms available for twin shared accom. The price per person for a shared room for two nights (Fri and Sat) is: $150 shared. Book and pay here now.
Sweet Briar Bed & Breakfast:The clubs have reserved the three rooms here. They are double rooms with attached ensuite, and are configured for couples only. It is $280 - $300 per room for two nights. To get a room you will need a referral from the clubs, and then pay the venue directly. Get your referral here.
Or book your own accom
Kindra Apartments. Two luxurious apartments in the heart of town, sleeping up to 5 in each. https://www.kindraapartmentscoolamon.com.au/ Contact them directly: +61269272838
Camping at the Coolamon Caravan Park: A green lawned oasis in the centre of town. The sites are powered so you can recharge your phone. There is a communal kitchen and laundry facility too. $25 per night. https://www.caravanandcamping.nsw.gov.au/parks-and-reserves/coolamon-caravan-park 0417 610 946
Ganmain Hotel. 15 Kilometres west in Ganmain. Traditional and cheap pub accomodation with a quiet back road access to Coolamon.(02) 6927 6419 https://www.facebook.com/ganmainhotel/
Marrar Hotel. 15 Kilometres east in Marrar. Traditional and cheap pub accomodation. (02) 6927 4412 https://www.facebook.com/Marrarhotel/
Essential. Your bike is fully serviced and with tyre tread to safely travel up to 1500 kms. We'll travel mainly on B and C roads, but the speed limit is 100 kph. So you should be comfortable riding at, or near, that speed on country roads. You carry tools to undertake repairs including a flat tyre. You are comprehensively insured and have access to a roadside assist scheme. Note that the group ride needs to cover the 480 kms to Coolamon efficiently and without delay. We can't afford a slow rider. Major breakdowns; you will need to have a plan to deal with this or rely on Roadside Assist.
Comments
Route map for Junee To Berrigan Via Wagga by Vespa Club Melbourne on plotaroute.com
Saturtday ride out
A simple loop of approx 125 kms to the historic town of Ariah Park where we have booked for lunch at the old hotel.
Departs from Coolamon Motel at 10.30 AM
Route map for Ariah Park Ride Out by Vespa Club Melbourne on plotaroute.com
Noted Julie. Will see the the group there and then
Hi there
For those who are wanting to meet at Romsey, please all meet at the Petrol Station by no later than 9.15AM.
Ampol Foodary Romsey
Be ready and waiting to go when the bigger group arrive as we won't be stopping.
Allow for roadworks and weather as has happened in the past.
We have a big day of riding ahead and we want it to be pleasurable, not a race to get in before dark as the days are getting shorter.
Cheers Julie
Hi Julie & Greg
Can Jani & I meet you at Romsey. We'll be waiting near the turnoff to Matilda's place. My estimate time of arrival for us would be 0930. Good idea you reckon
Hi All, what a great ride this will be, shame im un able to do the ride, however, Connie and I will be arriving in Wagga Wagga on our way back from Sydney Friday the !st and staying overnight, hopfully we will see you all there. Cheers Remo
To all participants. You need to organize your own accom if you are riding with the group up and back. The interim overnight stop will be Berrigan. Please support and book out the Federal Hotel and the Royal Hotel.
Accommodation in Berrigan – Please call and book your own room now. Don’t leave it late.
Thursday 31 March (way up) and Sunday 3 April (way home) if you are riding with the Club group.
See below information for staying in the little town of Berrigan.
If you wish to share, I have provided everyone’s email address in this email so you can sort this amongst yourselves.
Although Berrigan isn’t a tourist town, please book now to make sure you have a bed for the night. You will be weary at the end of the day, and you will just want to crash for the night.
Don’t forget to book the 2 nights - up and back if you intend riding with the main group both ways, and mention you are riding with the Vespa Club.
Thursday night’s Dinner will be at the Royal Hotel as a gesture of goodwill to the owner John who has looked after some of us through the years. He has sold the business and is retiring to do some fishing. 😊 He is looking forward to seeing us and if you stay there your bike will be safe overnight parked in the beer garden.
Breakfast both visits will be at the Berrigan Bakery - it is the best and only option!
Dinner options for Sunday night will be Chinese full menu at the Berrigan Community Golf and Bowling Club or Berrigan Takeaway and Pizza that has a little sit in area. The choices 😊
Berrigan Motel (swimming pool may be closed by end of March)
https://berriganmotel.com.au/
Tel: 5885 2831
Standard Queen room $105 ($95 non-refundable price)
Share Options: Queen + Single room $120
Dble Queen room (2 Q beds) if you want to share $130
Federal Hotel with Motel behind
Federal Hotel
Tel: 5885 2155
6 Rooms – Each room has a Queen & Single bed including ensuite $80 ($40 each if shared.)
Royal Hotel (shared bathrooms)
Tel: 5885 2064
1 Room - 2 Singles $65
4 x Double rooms $55
Hi All .. counting the days for this fun trip =^.^= just had the scooter fully serviced. Frank at Vespa House did a great job .. she purr's like a kitten. Put new brake pads and tyres front & rear. Packing tool kit, first aid kit and tyre repair kit. New battery and head light globe for better night vision. Replaced the exhaust gasket and air cleaner element. (The 2019 GTS has this new paper air cleaner element thing in the air box) Coated the windsceen on the scoot with Rainx ..just in case we get wet bones !! double checked wheel bolts and exhausrt support bolts. Even on the top box carrier. Lambs wool seat cover ..for a softer ride :) Front mud flap fitted to the wheel arch to stop stone chips and sh*t clinging to the underside of my scooter. Also help protect the oil filter from stone damage. Made the mud flap from rubber and plastic bolts from Bunnings .. total cost $12.00 !! looks great. Looking forward to the trip. Grumpy Cat. =^.^=
b. Melbourne ride up. Thursday 31 March. Meet and fuel up at the Ampol Servo cnr Sharps Rd and Airport Drive, Airport West. Have a big breakfast at home, as the 'Foodary' at this place is coffee and fast food. Departs 8.30 AM.
Please do have a good early breakfast as we will try and put 200 kms behind us quickly. Refuel at Heathcote, Shepparton, Lockhart. Overnight stay at Berrigan NSW - accom to be advised.
Short stretch and photo stops. Lunch in Rushworth or Shepparton. Arriving in Berrigan at 3.30 - 4.00 PM
We'll do the Benalla art silo trail on the way home.Route map for Melbourne Berrigan Coolamon by Vespa Club Melbourne on plotaroute.com
We're just finalizing the ride up.
But it will include an art-silo north east Victoria cruise, and it will be an overnight cosy stay at Berrigan NSW in traditional pub accom.
This will be a memorable ride.